22 June 2022

Newsletter Articles

A message from the Principal

Everyone loves kicking goals. Both the literal on-a-field-with-a-ball kind, and the big-bold-achievement-focussed kind. At Shailer Park SHS, we are kicking the latter right through the uprights! I am so proud of and so pleased with our schooling community: we are progressing toward our improvement goals and that is most definitely worth cheering wildly about.

Our vision has always been to lift aspirations for our young people, to help them achieve their big plans and bold ambitions. We make this happen through our Annual School Improvement Plan, one which outlines our commitment to growing FUTURE READY LEARNERS. This core priority is supported by 3 pillars: Our People, Our Partners and Our Place, which are all glued together through Our Culture.

In our annual improvement plan we have outlined indicators of success for student learning by the end of 2022. Routinely we review student learning evidence to evaluate how we are tracking towards these goals. Below are goals that have already been achieved in Semester 1

1. In years 7-9 Maths and English;18% of students achieve an A; 45% of students achieve a B or above; and 90% achieve a C or above.
2. In years 7-9 Humanities and Science is 15% achieve an A; 40% of students achieve a B or above; and 90% achieve a C or above.
3. In years 7-9 Elective subjects 10% achieve an A; 40% of students achieve a B; and 90% achieve a C or above.
4. In years 10-12 General and Applied subjects; 10% of students achieve an A; 40% achieve a B; and 85% achieve a C or above.

These results are outstanding! They speak clearly of our intention as a school to live and work toward our goal of lifting aspirations through big plans and bold ambitions for a bright future. More importantly, this evidence proves that we are kicking those goals: we are achieving the ambitions outlined in our Annual School Improvement Plan, and that translates to successful outcomes for Shailer Park’s young people. This is something our entire schooling community should be proud of and celebrate.

Our school plan certainly provides a blueprint toward this success, but a plan is useless if there is no action driving it toward to completion. In this, Shailer Park SHS can also celebrate the fantastic list of accomplishments driving us forward.

OUR PLACE

Health Hub and Pathways Centre:

Under a state Labor Government, we have realised $1.4 million to refurbish and transform F block (student services hub) into a super Health Hub and Pathways Centre. The purpose of the Health Hub and Pathways centre design is underpinned by the extensive research proving the inextricably link between learning and wellbeing: we understand the need to invest in supporting our community to live well, to learn. The refurbishment will achieve the integration of services including students’ access to:

• Guidance Officers
• GP
• Nurse
• Chaplain
• Youth workers
• Youth support worker
• Social worker
• Heads of house
• Attendance officer
• Engagement officer
• Industry liaison officer
• Dean of Studies
• Vocational Education Coordinator

This will provide students with a one-stop service for all their needs. The IPS Council have led initial consultation forums of students and staff regarding the design of the facility.

Repairs:

We have secured a grant to repair drains and gutters damaged in the storms earlier this year. In addition, we are progressively refurbishing drainage across the school to combat waterflow challenges.

OUR PEOPLE

Collaborative planning for every student’s needs:

Each week, teaching staff engage in collaborate planning and design of teaching that responds to students learning needs. We know that the greatest influence on student learning is teaching practice, therefore we continue to invest in growing our capability to meet the needs of all learners in our school.

Professional Development:

This term we have continued to focus on the development of teachers as leaders with Guest Facilitator, Jan Alen, joining us to lead our learning. The focus of the learning commenced with self-reflection and growing our self-awareness which is critical to leading others. The learning culminated in the development of a personalised Leadership Credo that reflects our schools value of Constructive Leadership.

OUR PARTNERS

Connect conferences:

Thank you to the parents and carers who joined us for connect conferences. The partnership between families and our school is critical to improving student outcomes.

Business partnerships which benefit our students:

We have established 17 business partnerships that support our Senior Ready Packages. We are delighted that these partnerships continue to provide tangible opportunities for our students including work experience, apprenticeships and employment. We have delivered over 140 employment opportunities for students through these partnerships over the last four years.

Dress Code:

The P&C will invite parents in Term 3 to provide feedback on specific elements within our Dress Code. As part of this consultation, we explore current trends and broader community values to ensure that our Dress Code reflects the values of our families and supports our school brand to be represented with pride. Please look out for further information via email in Term 3.

Community groups and ‘Harmony’:

We are delighted to have expanded our partnerships with community and cultural groups to play an active role in school activities and events. Recently a group of students who have formed ‘Harmony’ engaged with our partners to explore how they could strengthen inclusion in relation to cultural diversity in our community. This is exciting progress, and we look forward to the upcoming multicultural event they are planning.

When we look at each of these achievements and future endeavours on their own, they may seem ineffectual in making any real progress or support for our vision for Future Ready Learners. But each of these contributes to the whole of Shailer Park SHS, just like every team member contributes to the kicking of the winning goal.

Calendar

Please access our school calendar for upcoming events.

A message from our Senior Schooling Deputy Principal

Dear Year 11 and 12 parents and carers,

At Shailer Park High we are extremely committed to the academic success of our students. Our studies have shown that students who achieve the best results that they are capable of have many more opportunities available to them both at and post schooling. I won’t deny that being a senior student can be hard work at times. It requires dedication and commitment to the choice that they have made to continue their post compulsory studies.

It is for this reason that, for the past few years, we have made a commitment to provide every senior student with a mentor as they journey through Year 11 and 12. The role of this mentor is to provide an extra level of support at key times of the year, particularly after reporting. This conversation is about reflecting on past performance and discussing what the young person needs to do more or less of to become more resourceful and resilient in their learning. This enables them to own their learning. This connection is also allowing them to develop their relational qualities. The reason why I have highlighted the words above is that they are our school values, our 4Rs, and we feel strongly about helping students progress in these areas so that they become Future Ready Learners.

Our ATAR students have all been allocated a mentor who is a member of our senior leadership team (faculty HODs, Dean of Studies and me as Senior Deputy). Students in our Ready packages each have a Ready Mentor.

In the past few weeks’ mentors have been organising and having mentoring conversations with our seniors.

Can I ask that you have a conversation with your student this week about how they are owning their learning, who their mentor is and how they are using this important resource to their advantage.

If you have any feedback, I am always happy to hear it.

Yours in learning,

A message from our Junior Schooling Deputy Principal

Semester 2 Elective Subjects – A change for Year 7s and Year 8s only

Elective subjects, that is subjects that students ‘elect’ to study, are often a very popular part of our school’s timetable. In Junior Secondary, our Year 7 & Year 8 students are given the opportunity to choose a range of subjects in the Arts Faculty and the Technology Faculty. Regardless of which faculty, each subject gives students a semester-long program designed to instil a love of learning with hands-on experience. This gives students a ‘taste’ of these subjects before they engage in more in-depth subject selection processes in preparation for senior schooling. At the beginning of Semester 2, all students will receive a new copy of their timetable. Timetables for our Year 7 and Year 8 students will include their new elective subject for Semester 2. Our Year 9 students will continue their year-long elective subjects.

Enrolments for 2023 - Making the transition from primary school to high school

The transition from primary school to high school is an important time in every young person’s life. Many things change. These changes may be exciting and possibly even daunting. We like to work with students, families and our primary schools to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Enrolment Packs for 2023 are now available from our Administration Building and our school website. Inside these Enrolment Packs, you will find details regarding the enrolment process. Thank you to the many families who have already submitted their child’s Enrolment Pack. Enrolment interviews will be booked from the beginning of Term 3. Please look out for an email from the Enrolments Officer with details regarding your child’s enrolment interview time.

Is your child interested in applying for one of our Academy Programs for 2023?

Trials for the Academic Academies – Altum and Nexus - have almost finished with the Academic Testing Day occurring on Tuesday 7 June (Week 8 Term 2). Congratulations to all potential Altum and Nexus students of 2023. We wish you the very best for these trials.

Trials for the Sport and Cultural Academies – Sting Futsal, Sting Volleyball and Ignite Dance – are scheduled for Week 4 - 6 Term 3. These trials will be conducted face-to-face this year – hooray! - and involve the professional coaches from the Brisbane Sport Institute (BSI). Details regarding the details of these trials will be found on our website at the beginning of Term 3 and will be emailed directly to applicants, closer to the date.

A message from our Engagement Deputy Principal

At Shailer Park State High School, we endeavour to create a school where we all belong as Resilient, Resourceful, Relational and Reflective learners. We acknowledge that through COVID, weather events and illness in our community, Semester 1 has been a challenging one. We are hopeful that the holidays will give you and your family a chance to recharge, and that we can look forward to strong attendance and a renewed sense of belonging in Semester 2, leading to engagement in learning and strong achievement.

We have a Student Services Team who is keen to partner with families to ensure Shailer Park SHS is a place where your child belongs. Please reach out to the school or your child’s Head of House if we can support you with attendance, uniform or your child’s engagement.

Messages from our Student Services Team

Messages from the Heads of House

House Report June

Well, the competition is heating up nearing the end of Term Two!

Our Term Two house challenge is handball. It is great to see so many students and staff coming together, enjoying the sunshine, and engaging in some friendly competition.

As our focus is on participation, points are allocated based on attendance numbers from each house. It has been fantastic to see these numbers increasing each week. Check out some of the photos.

In addition to participation points there will be an extra round of points allocated at the end for the house that had the most wins throughout. All houses are working hard to gain those valuable points leading into our final large event of the year being our athletics carnival at the end of term.

In addition to our house challenge, houses are also earning points for their attendance as well as our exciting bonus live challenges held at the end of our fortnightly assemblies. As you can see in the table below, points are tight with Barnes making ground on Bilin Bilin.

Stay tuned to see what happens with those points!

National Reconciliation Week

Thanks to Simon and Chloe from Gunya Meta who partnered with many of our students to serve up Roo Snags and have a yarn on Tuesday at first break in the Plaza.

The event was a sell out and much appreciated by all who attended.

Staff and students are enjoying our new bell music – a range of Indigenous artists are playing now. The names of these tunes and artists will appear on our screens if you are keen to add them to your Spotify list!

Be Brave – Make Change…this week, and all year!

A message from our Dean of Studies

The University of Queensland’s Young Achievers Program raises and supports the long-term tertiary education aspirations, career options and community-mindedness of nominated Queensland state high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds by actively engaging and mentoring them throughout their academic journey and beyond.

Applications for the 2022 intake are now open for interested Year 10 students. If you think you might be eligible for this opportunity, please see Mr Albertson or contact the Young Achievers Program directly on youngachievers@uq.edu.au or 3346 0005.

Sport

Athletics Carnival

Our athletics carnival is a full two-day event this Thursday and Friday with running, jumping, throwing, and novelty events.

There will be five different carnival food trucks for staff and students to purchase food and snacks throughout the day!

Our full school carnivals are compulsory and count towards your attendance.

How can I help my House to victory?

There are many ways you can help your house win points!

• Participate in events!
  Even if you don’t win an event, your participation still goes towards House points. You giving something a go could make the difference for your team!
• Dress your best!
  The student (or group of students) showing the best House Spirit through their outfits will earn bonus points for their house! Remember – school appropriate attire must be worn.
• Spirit points!
  Be the loudest, clearest, and even most spontaneous at showing your spirit through chanting those war cries!

Carnival Food Trucks

There will be five different carnival food trucks for staff and students to purchase food and snacks throughout the day!

Cash and card can be used.

We look forward to another fantastic, spirited, whole school event.

News from our Creative Industries

Instrumental Music

Fanfare

Recently, our Shailer Park Capriccio Strings and Allegretto Strings performed at the Fanfare Competition. The Capriccio Strings received a Platinum Award, the Allegretto Strings and Percussion Ensemble received Gold awards, and the Symphonic Winds and the Wind Ensemble both received Silver Awards.

Congratulations to our Instrumental staff and students on such wonderful results!

Visual Art

Year 9 Visual Art students are working on their Freaky Flora papier mâché sculptures – exploring how future plants and vegetation may mutate if humans fail to address their impact on their environment.

Students are excited to paint and embellish their sculptures with eyeballs, teeth and claws!

Year 7 Visual Art students have been Cupcake Crazy.

Students have studied the qualities of the delightful cupcake and developed a wide range of wonderful skills in the fields of drawing, painting and ceramics.

Stay tuned for the final painting results…. they really do look good enough to eat!

News from our Library

The Hive

Rhiannon Elton visit

Recently, a group of year 9 and 10 students with a shared interest in the craft of writing, had the opportunity to meet and listen to local author, Rhiannon Elton, who offered her wisdom about how to go about putting pen to paper to create effective works of fiction. Over the past twelve months since we have last hosted Rhiannon at the school, she has added to her collection of publications, which now consists of ten books in total. Rhiannon was able to give her audience tips about how to structure and start a story, as well as the importance of setting and characterisation. In particular, the presenter provided advice about the so-called “writer’s block” and how to get around these obstacles and build self-confidence. These pointers will no doubt be useful for their upcoming English tasks involving both persuasive and creative writing skills and beyond.

We look forward to further liaising with Rhiannon in the future.

Messages from our Parents and Citizens

Do you have an idea for a fundraiser or want to be more involved? Anyone interested in joining our association is invited to request a membership application by emailing pandc@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au or attending a meeting.

Current Fundraisers

Our P&C appreciate you using our new Containers for Change scheme ID C10628129

Use your Ritches card during your regular shop

Chocolate drive orders via QKR

Natasha McVeigh
P&C President

Announcements

Facebook

Please follow us on Facebook to keep up with student successes and reminders.

Partnering with us

Shailer Park State High School values partnering with our community to ‘Lift Aspirations through Big Plans and Bold Ambitions for a Bright Future’. Working with parents and families of students is essential in strengthening educational outcomes. We respect that parents and families have different needs and therefore engagement with families is based on individual circumstances.

Please access our Partnership document on our website for detailed information

If your enquiry relates to the classroom, your first point of call should always be the classroom teacher. You can contact them via email

If your enquiry relates to the playground or is in relation to a pattern perhaps across several classes or it is an inquiry relating to behaviour, attendance, uniform or your child’s well-being, your first point of call should always be the Head of House or Case Manager.

If the staff member is unavailable, they will contact you within a reasonable and appropriate time frame (2 business days).

Contact details

There are times when we may need to contact parents and carers. Do we have your most up to date contact details? If not, please contact the school on office@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au so we can update our records. These details include parent/carer’s name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to contact the school if any of these details change.

Student Absences

Keeping our students safe is our priority. One important way families can partner to keep our children safe is to notify the school prior to 8:50am if your child will be absent via studentabsences@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au or (07) 3451 2766.

If your child is away from school and you have not let us know, parents will receive a text message requesting that you respond with a reason for the absence. It is extremely important that you respond to this text message promptly to enable us to follow up any possible issues.

The safety of students is of paramount importance to us, and we take this responsibility very seriously. If you do not respond to this text message a second text message, email or phone call will be made to you. Thank you for partnering with us so that we know our students are safe.

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